the actual practice, or just alternative medicine in general.

Because I would totally agree with you that almost-undetectable-amounts of random rocks and trees is more than likely totally useless.

But some alternative medicines have legitimacy. I, personally, have seen acupuncture relieve a great deal of pain in some dressage horses. Glucosamine chondroitin is a natural supplement that's become very mainstream (with strong scientific support). There is little denial that ginger can settle a stomach and that chamomile has soothing effects. Might I also point out the history of the development of narcotic pain medications?

I don't deny that a lot of what is presented is total bullarky. But to simply write off anything that is not "Western Medicine" (which is prone to its own problems when it comes to medication testing, development and use) is irresponsible as a practitioner. If a proposed treatment at least makes some sense (for example, a patient suggests using a natural diuretic to treat their kidney problem instead of a synthesized one), it is the responsibility of the practitioner to at consider and possibly research the suggestion and give the patient a reply that results from study and not opinion, and takes the patient's non-medical concerns into account.